SOUTH AMERICA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1863, 24 September 1913, Page 8

SOUTH AMERICA.

THE DARKEST OF CONTINENTS. Tho Rev. W. G. Ray, F.R.G.S., tho South American missionary explorer, and author of tho book "Through Five Republics 011 Horseback," addressed a largo audience in St.- John's Hall last evening. Ho lectured on his travels and experiences in tho hinterland of South America. Tho speaker has a breezy style of . delivery and brightened his discourse by introducing between liis» pathetic passages a vein of humour which served to lighten a story of almost incrediblo savagery and superstition. Mr. Ray was picturesquely attired in the costume affected by the Argentine cowboy. Tins consisted of a scarlet shirt, and a pair of voluminous trousers, tucked into raw hido top-boots. A silver mounted belt contained a silver embellished knife and sheath, and tho boots were adorned by a hugo pair of solid silver spurs, which judging from their size at nnyrate must at least be very serviceable. A graphic account was given of these cowboys of the great treeless plains. 'They wore described as being at one and the same time the most religious people in tho world, and tho world's biggest criminals. Their religion appeared to bo really a primitive form of saint worship. Intercession is made to a saint, which may bo a bunch of dried grass, twisted into a rude semblance of a human liguro, when the suppliant is desirous of accomplishing a murder, or other heinous crime. The lecturer told how 0110 day a scholar _ who attended the school which ho was conducting, informed him that "ho had got another mother." His father, it seems, had achieved this end by murdering Jiis previous wife. Slio in her turn had superseded another unfortunate wife, who had also been murdered. When the missionary rodo to tho cowman's hut to inquire into the circumstances, he had to wait for over twenty minutes while the wife-murderer returned tlianks to his "saints." The lecturer then gave an account of his meeting with old "Father of Kittens," this personage being tho witch doctor of a tribe of savages who inhabit tho interior of Bolivia. This tribo eventually adopted Mr. Ray.. Some of their tribal customs, he said, were gruesome. The lecturer announced that he had a largo collection of lantern slides depicting 0 scenes among these tribes, and announced that he would endeavour to make arrangements for a further lecture, at whicli theso views will be shown.